How Plants Work
Photosynthesis, plant chemistry, and nature’s most powerful pharmacies
Photosynthesis — The Most Important Chemical Reaction on Earth
Plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. This process, called photosynthesis, is the foundation of almost all life on Earth. The chemical equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
Why Plants Produce Phytochemicals
Plants can’t run away from threats. Instead, they produce a vast array of chemical compounds to protect themselves — from UV radiation, insects, disease, and herbivores. These phytochemicals are what give plants their colours, flavours, and medicinal properties.
Plants as Medicine
Thousands of years of traditional medicine, now backed by modern science, confirm that eating a wide variety of plants provides protective health benefits. The colours of fruits and vegetables correspond to different phytochemicals:
- Red (tomatoes, watermelon) — Lycopene, supports heart health
- Orange/Yellow (carrots, sweet potatoes) — Beta-carotene, supports vision and immunity
- Green (kale, broccoli) — Chlorophyll, glucosinolates — liver detox and cancer protection
- Blue/Purple (blueberries, aubergine) — Anthocyanins — brain health and anti-ageing
- White/Brown (garlic, onions, mushrooms) — Allicin — immune support
This is the ‘rainbow’ that gives The Rainbow Cure its name!